Signaling methods and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A transmission apparatus and transmitting method for signaling parameters of a part of a frame, and a reception apparatus and receiving method for decoding a part of a transmission frame. The transmitting method includes generating, using processing circuitry of a transmission apparatus, a transmission frame. The transmission frame includes a plurality of parts. A last symbol in a first one of the plurality of parts includes signaling information for decoding a second one of the plurality of parts. The transmitting method further includes transmitting the transmission frame using the processing circuitry.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/108,410 filed Jan. 27, 2015, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for signalingparameters in a communication system.

BACKGROUND

Television broadcasting has evolved from basic analogue terrestrialbroadcast television to complex digital systems. Wireless communicationtechniques are central to the development of the complex digitalsystems. There exists several wideband digital communication techniquesdepending on a broadcasting method used. For example, direct sequencespread spectrum (DSSS) and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing(OFDM) are one of the latest schemes in wideband digital communicationsystems. OFDM is a method of encoding digital data on multiple carrierfrequencies and is used in applications such as digital television andaudio broadcasting, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet access,wireless networks, power line networks, and 4G mobile communications.OFDM has been selected as the wireless technique for the currentgeneration of terrestrial television broadcast standards such as DVB-T2and emerging standards such as ATSC 3.0.

A broadcasting standard may allow many modes of operations to bedetermined by the broadcaster. Thus, signaling parameters are needed bythe receiver to decode efficiently, and correctly the received data. Asrecognized by the present inventors, there is a need to transmitsignaling parameters.

The foregoing “Background” description is for the purpose of generallypresenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the inventors, to theextent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects ofthe description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the timeof filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior artagainst the present disclosure. The foregoing paragraphs have beenprovided by way of general introduction, and are not intended to limitthe scope of the following claims. The described embodiments, togetherwith further advantages, will be best understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda method for signaling parameters. The method includes generating usingprocessing circuitry, a transmission frame. The transmission frameincludes a plurality of parts. A last symbol in a first one of theplurality of parts includes signaling information for decoding a secondone of the plurality of parts. The method further includes transmitting,using the processing circuitry, the transmission frame.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda transmission apparatus, including a memory and circuitry. Thecircuitry is configured to generate a transmission frame. Thetransmission frame includes a plurality of parts. A last symbol in afirst one of the plurality of parts includes signaling information fordecoding a second one of the plurality of parts. The circuitry isfurther configured to transmit the transmission frame.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, whichwhen executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the methodfor signaling parameters, as described above.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda method for decoding a part of a transmission frame. The methodincludes detecting, using processing circuitry of a reception apparatus,a last symbol of a first part of the transmission frame. The methodfurther includes extracting, using the processing circuitry, signalingparameters to decode a second part of the transmission frame from thelast symbol of the first part of the transmission frame.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda reception apparatus including a memory and circuitry. The circuitry isconfigured to detect a last symbol of a first part of the transmissionframe. The circuitry is further configured to extract signalingparameters to decode a second part of the transmission frame from thelast symbol of the first part of the transmission frame.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, whichwhen executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the methodfor decoding a part of a transmission frame as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary system for broadcasting and receivingcommunication signals according to one example;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an orthogonal frequency-divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) transmitter according to one example;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an OFDM receiver according to oneexample;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary transmission frame structure according to oneexample;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram for wave generation according to oneexample;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart that shows the signaling method according to oneexample;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart that shows the operation of the transmitteraccording to one example;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart that shows the operation of the receiveraccording to one example;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary reception apparatus;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary block diagram of a central processing unitaccording to one example; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardwareconfiguration of a computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in manydifferent forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein bedescribed in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding thatthe present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as anexample of the principles and not intended to limit the presentdisclosure to the specific embodiments shown and described. In thedescription below, like reference numerals are used to describe thesame, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of thedrawings.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more thanone. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or morethan two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least asecond or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein,are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, asused herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly,and not necessarily mechanically. The term “program” or “computerprogram” or similar terms, as used herein, is defined as a sequence ofinstructions designed for execution on a computer system. A “program”,or “computer program”, may include a subroutine, a program module, ascript, a function, a procedure, an object method, an objectimplementation, in an executable application, an applet, a servlet, asource code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load libraryand/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on acomputer system.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certainembodiments”, “an embodiment”, “an implementation”, “an example” orsimilar terms means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, theappearances of such phrases or in various places throughout thisspecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments withoutlimitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive ormeaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means “any ofthe following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. Anexception to this definition will occur only when a combination ofelements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutuallyexclusive.

The following description relates to methods and apparatuses forsignaling parameters in a communication system.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary system for broadcasting and receivingcommunication signals according to one example. The communicationsignals may represent data where the communication signals may bedigital television signals (e.g., terrestrial television broadcastsignals). The communication system includes a transmitter 100, a corenetwork 102, an antenna 104, and a plurality of user devices. The userdevices may be televisions sets 106, mobile handsets, personal videorecorders or others devices configured to receive a communicationsignal. Each of the user devices includes an antenna to receive thecommunication signal. The user device includes reception circuitry. Thereception circuitry may also be included in a vehicle 108 or a computer110. The core network 102 includes a signal source such as for example atelevision studio camera that captures video and audio data and convertsthe data into a signal which is transmitted to the transmitter 100. Thetransmitter 100 processes the signal received from the core network 102to transform the signal into a form suitable for transmission.

The signals carrying the data may be transmitted to the user devicesover a terrestrial broadcast, a cable connection or a satellite link.The system may use any one or a variety of transmission techniques tocommunicate data to the user devices, for example the system may use asingle or multicarrier technique.

The broadcasting system may employ a coded orthogonal frequency-divisionmultiplexing (COFDM) scheme. COFDM is the same as orthogonalfrequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) except that forward errorcorrection is applied to the signal before transmission. OFDM isutilized in the terrestrial digital TV broadcasting system DVB-T (usedin Europe) and integrated services digital broadcasting for terrestrial(ISDB-T) television broadcasting (used in Japan). COFDM is expected tobe used in the future implementation of ATSC 3.0. COFDM is amulti-carrier modulation technique that can provide good performance insome wireless environments. In COFDM, the available bandwidth is dividedinto several orthogonal frequency sub-bands, which are also calledsubcarriers. The partial allocation of the data payload to eachsubcarrier protects it against frequency selective fading. The number ofsubcarriers may be dependent on the standard used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an OFDM transmitter according toone example. The transmitter 100 receives data from a source 200. Thesource 200 may be for audio, video, signaling, control or other data aswould be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. A sourceencoder 202 may include a data, audio, and video encoders to compressthe audio, video and data. A channel encoder 204 may randomize,interleave, channel code, and frame map the compressed and signalingdata. For example, the channel encoder 204 may include a frame builderthat forms many data cells into sequences to be conveyed on OFDMsymbols.

A modulator 206 (multiplexer) converts the processed digital data intomodulation symbols, which can be, for example OFDM symbols (e.g., in thecase of the proposed ATSC 3.0 standard). The multiplexed data is thenpassed to an inverse fast Fourier transformer (IFFT) which transforms afrequency domain signal into a time domain signal. The size of the IFFTis a function of the number of subcarriers, for example, in ATSC 3.0 theFFT and IFFT sizes may include 8K, 16K and 32K. A larger FFT size hasthe advantage of increased payload capacity while a smaller FFT size hasthe advantage of higher mobility.

The time domain signal is fed to a guard insertion module for generatinga guard interval (GI) between symbols and then to a digital to analog(D/A) converter. The antenna 104 may perform up-conversion, RFamplification and over-the air broadcasting.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an OFDM receiver according to oneexample. The receiver 300 may be used to receive signals (e.g., digitaltelevision signals) transmitted from the transmitter 100 illustrated inFIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, an OFDM signal is received by an antenna 302and detected by a tuner 304 and converted into digital form by ananalog-to-digital converter (ADC) 306. A guard remover 308 removes theguard interval from a received OFDM symbol, before the payload data andpilot data is recovered from the OFDM symbol using a demodulator 310.

A channel decoder 312 recovers the compressed and ancillary data byperforming error correcting decoding, de-interleaving andde-randomizing. Then, a source decoder 314 decompresses the audio andvideo data.

As it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, some of thecomponents of the transmitter 100 and the receiver 300 shown in FIGS. 2and 3 may not be necessary. For example, the antennas are not requiredwhen the transmission system is not over-the-air but over cable. Inaddition, some of the components of the transmitter and receiver are notillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the transmitter may includean error correction coder. Details of an exemplary OFDM transmitter andreceiver may be found in the DVB-T2 standard (ETSI EN 302 755), which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary transmission frame structure according to oneexample. The transmission frame includes a plurality of parts, forexample a first part corresponding to a first subset of symbols (e.g.,PS1-PSn) making up the transmission frame, a second part correspondingto a second subset of the symbols (e.g., xK OFDM Symbol(s) containing L1signaling), and a third part corresponding to a third subset of thesymbols (e.g., data). Each of these parts may include one or moresymbols. Each of these parts may or may not have a same bandwidth. Forexample, one or more parts may have a bandwidth of six megahertz. In oneembodiment, at least one of the plurality of parts has a bandwidth ofsix megahertz. One part may be a preamble. The preamble includes one ormore symbols. The symbols may have different sequences for improveddetection. Each of the symbols may include a guard interval and an OFDMportion where the OFDM portion represents the useful part of the symbol.

In one embodiment, signaling information is included in one or moreparts of the transmission frame. In each of the one or more parts, thesignaling information may be included in one or more symbols forming therespective part. This has the advantage of providing multiple levels ofsignaling via, for example, the preamble and/or signaling within otherOFDM symbols. The signaling information may include sampling frequency,system bandwidth, and any other necessary fields.

In one embodiment, a first part may include signaling information for asecond part that is subsequent to the first part. The last symbol (e.g.,PSn) of the first part includes the signaling information for the secondpart (e.g., xK OFDM Symbol(s)). In addition, the second part (e.g., xKOFDM Symbol(s) may include signaling information for a third part (e.g.,data) that is subsequent to the second part. For example, when the firstpart is a bootstrap and the second part is a preamble, the last symbolof the bootstrap includes signaling information for the preamble. Inanother example, the first part is referred to as a preamble part, thesecond part an L1 signaling part, and the third part a payload part.

In one embodiment, the second part carries the L1 signaling data for thefollowing data symbols. The second part occurs before any data symbolscorresponding to the third part of the frame. The third part maycorrespond to the payload. The L1 signaling provides the necessaryinformation to configure the physical layer parameters (e.g., parametersused to decode the payload). The second part may have different formats(configurations); thus, one symbol occurring directly before the symbolcarrying the L1 signaling may be used to identify the configuration. Thesignaling information may include a plurality of parameters that definethe L1 signaling structure, including one or a combination of amodulation parameter (L1 mode), a FFT size, a guard interval, and ascattered pilot pattern (SPP).

Each of the parts configuration should be flexible and scalable tosupport a plurality of network types, network sizes, service types, andfuture expansions. Thus, the parameters may include differentcombinations of FFT sizes, guard intervals, scattered pilot patterns,and L1 modes. In addition, each part should be robust and resistant tochannel impairments.

In one embodiment, L1 (layer-1) signaling may consist of two parts:L1-static and L1-dynamic. L1-static conveys signaling information whichis static over the complete frame and also defines the parameters neededto decode L1-dynamic. L1-dynamic details the data format and therequired information to decode the data payload. When the L1 signalingincludes different parts (static and dynamic), the L1 mode as describedin the present disclosure refers to the first part (L1 static), in oneembodiment.

Further, each part of the plurality of parts may or may not use a sameconfiguration. For example, the second part and the third part may ormay not use a same configuration. Thus, the second part and the thirdpart may need to be signaled. In one embodiment, the configuration maybe one of allowable combinations of a FFT size, a guard interval, afrequency domain displacement component of a scattered pilot pattern(SPP), and a L1 mode for example to be defined in the proposed ATSCstandard.

The receiver 300 starts by decoding the first part, which includes theinformation needed to decode the second part. Then the receiver 300decodes the second part, which includes the information needed to decodethe third part. The guard remover 308 removes the guard interval of asecond part symbol based on the guard interval included in the signaledsecond part parameters. The demodulator 310 demodulates the second partsymbol based on the FFT size and the SPP signaled in the second partparameters. The channel decoder 312 performs error-correcting decodingof the second part symbol based on the L1 mode.

In one embodiment, the first part may provide a universal entry pointinto a broadcast waveform. The first part may employ a fixedconfiguration known to all receivers. The first part includes one ormore symbols. For example, the first part may include four symbols. Afirst symbol may be used for synchronization and indication of aversion. A second symbol may be used to signal Emergency Alert System(EAS) information, system bandwidth, and a time interval to the nextframe. A third symbol may indicate a sample rate. A fourth symbol mayindicate the preamble structure. Each of the symbols may use apredefined number of bits.

In addition, the encoding parameter (L1 mode) may be chosen from sevenmodes. The L1 modes are related to the coding and modulation chosenwhich are a function of the power added to the signal. The L1 modes mayrepresent allowable combinations of a code rate and modulation typeused. For example, the modulation type may be QPSK, 16NUC, 64-NUC or thelike. The code rate may be 3/15, 6/15, or the like. The L1 modes providea range of robustness.

Table 1 shows exemplary signaling information that may be included inthe plurality of parts of the transmission frame.

TABLE 1 Exemplary signaling information Service Category Components Bitsdiscovery Boot/Sync Major System Revision Number 2 Stage 1 Boot/SyncMinor System Revision Number 2 Stage 1 Boot/Sync Next Frame Time start 5Stage 1 Boot/Sync Emergency Alert 1 Stage 1 Boot/Sync Pilot Pattern 3Stage 1 Boot/Sync Extension Indicator 1 Stage 1 Boot/Sync ExtensionLength 8 Stage 1 Boot/Sync Sampling Frequency 3 Stage 2 Boot/Sync SystemBandwidth 2 Stage 1 Boot/Sync Carrier Frequency 10 Stage 1 37 BasicSystem Data Service Type 3 Stage 2 Basic System Data UTC Time data 64Stage 2 Basic System Data Pre-distortion (MISO) type 4 Stage 2 BasicSystem Data Num. PLPs 6 Stage 2 Basic System Data EAS version 4 Stage 2Basic System Data EAS ID 4 Stage 2 Basic System Data EAS Message Index 8Stage 2 Basic System Data EAS Locality Index 8 Stage 2 101 Per Servicedata Pilot Configuration 3 Stage 2 Per Service data Resource Allocation4 Stage 2 Per Service data Inner FEC Type 4 Stage 2 Per Service dataOuter FEC Type 2 Stage 2 Per Service data Modulation/Code rate 6 Stage 2Per Service data Transport Type 3 Stage 2 Per Service data BasebandScrambler Type 3 Stage 2 Per Service data PLP Group No 6 Stage 2

In one embodiment, the first part is a bootstrap, the second part is apreamble, and the third part is a payload. The bootstrap may includefour symbols. The preamble includes one or more symbols. The last symbolof the bootstrap includes signaling information needed to decode one ormore symbols of the preamble. The preamble includes signalinginformation needed to decode the payload. For example, the preamble mayinclude L1 signaling. The L1 signaling may consist of two part parts.One of the two parts may include the necessary information to decode thepayload. The preamble occurs before any data symbol corresponding to thepayload of the transmission frame. The preamble symbols may havedifferent sequences for improved detection. In one embodiment, each ofthe symbols of, for example the bootstrap, uses 21 bits. The payload mayhave a bandwidth of six megahertz.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram that shows the waveform generationaccording to one example. The waveform generation may include thefollowing modules that are implemented by one or a combination ofprogrammable or hardwired circuitry. The pilot insertion module 500inserts the pilots as specified by the broadcaster. Then, the signal ispassed to a multiple input single output (MISO) module 502. Theresultant signal is passed through an IFFT module 504. Then,peak-to-average power reduction (PAPR) techniques can be applied by aPAPR module 506. A guard interval module 508 inserts a repeated portionof the COFDM waveform. The GI length may be chosen to match the level ofmultipath expected. Finally, a bootstrap module 510 affixes thebootstrap or the first part of the transmission frame to the front ofeach frame.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart that shows the signaling method according to oneexample. At step S600, a transmission frame is generated by thetransmitter 100 using processing circuitry. In one embodiment, the frameincludes three parts. The last symbol of the first part includessignaling information needed by receiver to decode the second part. Thelast symbol may be generated using the signaling information directly orby referencing a look-up table stored in the transmitter 100 todetermine the pattern corresponding to the parameters of the second partas set by the broadcaster. In certain embodiments, one or more look-uptables are referenced, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/746,541, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. In otherembodiments, the look-up table is stored at a remote location or thepattern is provided directly to the transmitter 100 by an operator. Atstep S602, the frame is transmitted.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart that shows the operation of the transmitteraccording to one example. At step S700, the transmitter 100 forms setsof data symbols for each OFDM symbol. Each set of symbols may correspondto an amount of data which can be carried by an OFDM symbol. At stepS702, the transmitter 100 may combine the data symbols with pilotsymbols. At step 704, the transmitter 100 modulates the data to formOFDM symbols in the frequency domain. Then, the transmitter 100 performsan IFFT to transform the OFDM symbols from the frequency domain into thetime domain. At step S706, the transmitter 100 adds a guard interval bycopying a part of the OFDM symbols. At step S708, the transmitter 100may generate one or more symbols that forms the first part of the frame.As discussed above the first part may be used for synchronization andindication of a version, and for indication of EAS information. In oneembodiment, the transmitter 100, using the processing circuitry, maycheck whether the broadcaster has indicated a configuration for thesecond part. In response to determining that the broadcaster hasindicated the configuration for the second part, the transmitter 100 mayuse the indicated configuration and in certain embodiments at least onelook-up table to determine the corresponding pattern. In response todetermining that the broadcaster has not indicated a configuration forthe second part, a default configuration may be used. The look-up tablemay also be associated with the version. Thus, a plurality of look-uptables may be stored in the memory of the transmitter or at a remotelocation. At step S710, the frame is transmitted.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart that shows the operation of the receiveraccording to one example. At step S800, the receiver 300 detects thefirst part of the transmission frame. The first part is detected from areceived digital television signal according to one embodiment. Thereceiver detects the bits (e.g., 7 or 8) in the last symbol of the firstpart. At step S802, the receiver 300 extracts the signaling parametersfrom the first part or determines signaling patterns representing thesignaled parameters by referencing at least one look-up table stored inthe memory or a remote location (e.g., a predetermined server). Forexample, the transmitter 100 may utilize more than one look-up tablewhen the second parameters (e.g., the L1 mode) are signaled separately.At step S804, the receiver 300 decodes the second part using thesignaling parameters extracted at step S802. At step S806, the receiver300 decodes the data payload using signaling information included in thesecond part.

The receiver circuitry illustrated in FIG. 3 generally operates undercontrol of at least one processor, such as a CPU, which is coupled tomemory, program memory, and a graphics subsystem via one or more buses.An exemplary computer for controlling the receiver circuitry is furtherdescribed below with respect to FIG. 11. Similarly, the transmissioncircuitry illustrated in FIG. 2 is operated under control of at leastone processor.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary reception apparatus, which is configuredto implement the process of FIG. 8 in certain embodiments. The receptionapparatus includes a digital television receiver device that isincorporated into a fixed or mobile device such as a television set, aset top box, smartphone, tablet computer, laptop, portable computer, orany other device configured to receive television content. The receptionapparatus may also be incorporated in a vehicle.

The reception apparatus includes a tuner/demodulator 902, which receivesdigital television broadcast signals from one or more content sources(e.g., content source) via, for example, a terrestrial broadcast. Thetuner/demodulator 902 includes one of the receiver circuitry illustratedin FIG. 3 in certain embodiments. Depending on the embodiment, thereception apparatus may alternatively or additionally be configured toreceive a cable television transmission or a satellite broadcast. Thetuner/demodulator 902 receives a signal, including for example an MPEG-2TS or IP packets, which may be demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 904 orhandled by middleware and separated into audio and video (A/V) streams.The audio is decoded by an audio decoder 910 and the video is decoded bya video decoder 914. Further, uncompressed A/V data may be received viaan uncompressed A/V interface (e.g., a HDMI interface), if available.

In one embodiment, the received signal (or stream) includes supplementaldata such as one or a combination of closed caption data, a triggereddeclarative object (TDO), a trigger, a virtual channel table, EPG data,NRT content, etc. Examples of the TDO and trigger are described in ATSCCandidate Standard: Interactive Services Standard (A/105:2015),S13-2-389r8, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.The supplemental data are separated out by the demultiplexer 904.However, the A/V content and/or the supplemental data may be receivedvia the Internet 930 and a network interface 926.

A storage unit may be provided to store non real time content (NRT) orInternet-delivered content such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).The stored content can be played by demultiplexing the content stored inthe storage unit by the demultiplexer 904 in a manner similar to that ofother sources of content. Alternatively, the stored content may beprocessed and presented to the user by the CPU 938. The storage unit mayalso store any other supplemental data acquired by the receptionapparatus.

The reception apparatus generally operates under control of at least oneprocessor, such as the CPU 938, which is coupled to a working memory940, program memory 942, and a graphics subsystem 944 via one or morebuses (e.g., bus 950). The CPU 938 receives closed caption data from thedemultiplexer 904 as well as any other supplemental data used forrendering graphics, and passes appropriate instructions and data to thegraphics subsystem 944. The graphics outputted by the graphics subsystem944 are combined with video images by the compositor and video interface960 to produce an output suitable for display on a video display.

Further, the CPU 938 operates to carry out functions of the receptionapparatus including the processing of NRT content, triggers, TDOs, EPGdata, etc. For example, the CPU 938 operates to execute script objects(control objects) contained in the TDO, its trigger(s), etc., using forexample a Declarative Object (DO) Engine stored in the program memory942.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 9, the CPU 938 may be coupled to anyone or a combination of the reception apparatus resources to centralizecontrol of one or more functions. In one embodiment, the CPU 938 alsooperates to oversee control of the reception apparatus including thetuner/demodulator 902 and other television resources. For example, FIG.10 shows one implementation of CPU 938.

FIG. 10 illustrates one implementation of CPU 938, in which theinstruction register 1038 retrieves instructions from the fast memory1040. At least part of these instructions are fetched from theinstruction register 1038 by the control logic 1036 and interpretedaccording to the instruction set architecture of the CPU 938. Part ofthe instructions can also be directed to the register 1032. In oneimplementation, the instructions are decoded according to a hardwiredmethod, and in another implementation, the instructions are decodedaccording a microprogram that translates instructions into sets of CPUconfiguration signals that are applied sequentially over multiple clockpulses. After fetching and decoding the instructions, the instructionsare executed using the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 1034 that loadsvalues from the register 1032 and performs logical and mathematicaloperations on the loaded values according to the instructions. Theresults from these operations can be feedback into the register and/orstored in the fast memory 1040. According to certain implementations,the instruction set architecture of the CPU 938 can use a reducedinstruction set architecture, a complex instruction set architecture, avector processor architecture, a very large instruction wordarchitecture. Furthermore, the CPU 938 can be based on the Von Neumanmodel or the Harvard model. The CPU 938 can be a digital signalprocessor, an FPGA, an ASIC, a PLA, a PLD, or a CPLD. Further, the CPU938 can be an x86 processor by Intel or by AMD; an ARM processor, aPower architecture processor by, e.g., IBM; a SPARC architectureprocessor by Sun Microsystems or by Oracle; or other known CPUarchitecture.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardwareconfiguration of a computer that can be configured to perform functionsof any one or a combination of reception apparatus and transmissionapparatus. For example, in one embodiment, the computer is configured toperform the functions in the digital domain, such as the modulator 206,channel encoder 204, demodulator 310, the transmitter 100, the receiver300, or the reception apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 11 the computer includes a central processingunit (CPU) 1102, read only memory (ROM) 1104, and a random access memory(RAM) 1106 interconnected to each other via one or more buses 1108. Theone or more buses 1108 are further connected with an input-outputinterface 1110. The input-output interface 1110 is connected with aninput portion 1112 formed by a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, remotecontroller, etc. The input-output interface 1110 is also connected anoutput portion 1114 formed by an audio interface, video interface,display, speaker and the like; a recording portion 1116 formed by a harddisk, a non-volatile memory or other non-transitory computer readablestorage medium; a communication portion 1118 formed by a networkinterface, modem, USB interface, fire wire interface, etc.; and a drive1120 for driving removable media 1122 such as a magnetic disk, anoptical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, etc.

According to one embodiment, the CPU 1102 loads a program stored in therecording portion 1116 into the RAM 1106 via the input-output interface1110 and the bus 1108, and then executes a program configured to providethe functionality of the one or combination of the perform the functionsin the digital domain, such as the modulator 206, channel encoder 204,demodulator 310, the transmitter 100, the receiver 300, or the receptionapparatus illustrated in FIG. 9.

The hardware description above, exemplified by any one of the structureexamples shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, constitutes or includes specializedcorresponding structure that is programmed or configured to perform thealgorithm shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. For example, the algorithm shown inFIG. 6 may be completely performed by the circuitry included in thesingle device shown in FIG. 11.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within thescope of the appended claims, the embodiments of the present disclosuremay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Forexample, any of the different methods described above may be applied toany of the parts of a frame.

Thus, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure. As will be understood by thoseskilled in the art, the present disclosure may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacteristics thereof. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intendedto be illustrative, but not limiting of the scope of the presentdisclosure, as well as other claims. The disclosure, including anyreadily discernible variants of the teachings herein, defines, in part,the scope of the foregoing claim terminology such that no inventivesubject matter is dedicated to the public.

The above disclosure also encompasses the embodiments noted below.

(1) A method for signaling parameters, the method includes generating,using processing circuitry of a transmission apparatus, a transmissionframe, the transmission frame including a plurality of parts and a lastsymbol in a first one of the plurality of parts including signalinginformation for decoding a second one of the plurality of parts; andtransmitting the transmission frame.

(2) The method of feature (1), in which the second one of the pluralityof parts contains L1 signaling information.

(3) The method of feature (1) or (2), in which the signaling informationincludes one or a combination of an FFT size, a guard interval size anda pilot pattern.

(4) The method of any one of features (1) to (3), in which the secondone of the plurality of parts includes signaling data for a third one ofthe plurality of parts.

(5) The method of feature (4), in which the third one of the pluralityof parts is a payload.

(6) The method of any one of features (1) to (5), in which thetransmission frame only includes three parts.

(7) The method of any one of features (1) to (6), in which at least oneof the plurality of parts has a bandwidth of six megahertz.

(8) The method of any one of features (1) to (7), in which the first oneof the plurality of parts is a preamble.

(9) The method of any one of features (1) to (7), in which the first oneof the plurality of parts is a bootstrap.

(10) A transmission apparatus, including a memory, and circuitryconfigured to generate a transmission frame, the transmission frameincluding a plurality of parts and a last symbol in a first one of theplurality of parts including signaling information for decoding a secondone of the plurality of parts, and transmit the transmission frame.

(11) The transmission apparatus of feature (10), in which the second oneof the plurality of parts contains L1 signaling information.

(12) The transmission apparatus of feature (10) or (11), in which thesignaling information includes one or a combination of an FFT size, aguard interval size and a pilot pattern.

(13) The transmission apparatus of any one of features (10) to (12), inwhich the second one of the plurality of parts includes signaling datafor a third one of the plurality of parts.

(14) The transmission apparatus of feature (13), in which the third oneof the plurality of parts is a payload.

(15) The transmission apparatus of any one of features (10) to (14), inwhich the transmission frame only includes three parts.

(16) The transmission apparatus of any one of features (10) to (15), inwhich at least one of the plurality of parts has a bandwidth of sixmegahertz.

(17) The transmission apparatus of any one of features (10) to (16), inwhich the first one of the plurality of parts is a preamble.

(18) The transmission apparatus of any one of features (10) to (16), inwhich the first one of the plurality of parts is a bootstrap.

(19) A method for decoding a part of a transmission frame, the methodincluding detecting, using processing circuitry of a receptionapparatus, a last symbol of a first part of the transmission frame; andextracting, using the processing circuitry, signaling parameters todecode a second part of the transmission frame from the last symbol ofthe first part of the transmission frame.

(20) The method of feature (19), in which the second one of theplurality of parts contains L1 signaling information.

(21) The method of feature (19) or (20), in which the signalinginformation includes one or a combination of an FFT size, a guardinterval size and a pilot pattern.

(22) The method of any one of features (19) to (21), in which the secondone of the plurality of parts includes signaling data for a third one ofthe plurality of parts.

(23) The method of feature (22), in which the third one of the pluralityof parts is a payload.

(24) The method of any one of features (19) to (23), in which thetransmission frame only includes three parts.

(25) The method of any one of features (19) to (24), in which at leastone of the plurality of parts has a bandwidth of six megahertz.

(26) The method of any one of features (19) to (25), in which the firstone of the plurality of parts is a preamble.

(27) The method of any one of features (19) to (25), in which the firstone of the plurality of parts is a bootstrap.

(28) A reception apparatus, including a memory; and circuitry configuredto detect a last symbol of a first part of a transmission frame, andextract signaling parameters to decode a second part of the transmissionframe from the last symbol of the first part of the transmission frame.

(29) The reception apparatus of feature (28), in which the second one ofthe plurality of parts contains L1 signaling information.

(30) The reception apparatus of feature (28) or (29), in which thesignaling information includes one or a combination of an FFT size, aguard interval size and a pilot pattern.

(31) The reception apparatus of any one of features (28) to (30), inwhich the second one of the plurality of parts includes signaling datafor a third one of the plurality of parts.

(32) The reception apparatus of feature (31), in which the third one ofthe plurality of parts is a payload.

(33) The reception apparatus of any one of features (28) to (32), inwhich the transmission frame only includes three parts.

(34) The reception apparatus of any one of features (28) to (33), inwhich at least one of the plurality of parts has a bandwidth of sixmegahertz.

(35) The reception apparatus of any one of features (28) to (34), inwhich the first one of the plurality of parts is a preamble.

(36) The reception apparatus of any one of features (28) to (34), inwhich the first one of the plurality of parts is a bootstrap.

(37) A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions,which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform themethod of any one of features (1) to (9).

(38) A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions,which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform themethod of any one of features (19) to (27).

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for signaling parameters, themethod comprising: generating, using processing circuitry of atransmission apparatus, a transmission frame, the transmission frameincluding a plurality of parts and a last symbol in a first part of theplurality of parts indicating signaling parameters for decoding a secondpart of the plurality of parts; and transmitting the transmission frame,wherein the second part includes signaling data for decoding a thirdpart of the plurality of parts, the first part is a bootstrap, thesecond part is a preamble, the third part is a payload, and thesignaling parameters for decoding the second part of the plurality ofparts are extracted from the last symbol in the first part of theplurality of parts based on a look-up table.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the second part contains L1 signaling information.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the signaling parameters extracted from the firstpart includes one or a combination of an FFT size, a guard interval sizeand a pilot pattern.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe first, second, or third parts has a bandwidth of six megahertz. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the last symbol in the first part of theplurality of parts indicates the signaling parameters for decoding thesecond part of the plurality of parts irrespective of a number ofsymbols in the first part of the plurality of parts.
 6. A transmissionapparatus, comprising: a memory, and circuitry configured to generate atransmission frame, the transmission frame including a plurality ofparts and a last symbol in a first part of the plurality of partsindicating signaling parameters for decoding a second part of theplurality of parts; and transmit the transmission frame, wherein thesecond part includes signaling data for decoding a third part of theplurality of parts, the first part is a bootstrap, the second part is apreamble, the third part is a payload, and the signaling parameters fordecoding the second part of the plurality of parts are extracted fromthe last symbol in the first part of the plurality of parts based on alook-up table.
 7. The transmission apparatus of claim 6, wherein thesecond part contains L1 signaling information.
 8. The transmissionapparatus of claim 6, wherein the signaling parameters extracted fromthe first part includes one or a combination of an FFT size, a guardinterval size and a pilot pattern.
 9. The transmission apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein at least one of the first, second, or third parts has abandwidth of six megahertz.
 10. The transmission apparatus of claim 6,wherein the last symbol in the first part of the plurality of partsindicates the signaling parameters for decoding the second part of theplurality of parts irrespective of a number of symbols in the first partof the plurality of parts.
 11. A method for decoding a part of atransmission frame, the method comprising: detecting, using processingcircuitry of a reception apparatus, a last symbol of a first part of thetransmission frame; and extracting, using the processing circuitry,signaling parameters to decode a second part of the transmission framefrom the last symbol of the first part of the transmission frame basedon a look-up table, wherein the second part includes signaling data fordecoding a third part of the transmission frame, the first part is abootstrap, the second part is a preamble, and the third part is apayload.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second part contains L1signaling information.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the signalingparameters extracted from the first part includes one or a combinationof an FFT size, a guard interval size and a pilot pattern.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first, second, or thirdparts has a bandwidth of six megahertz.
 15. The method of claim 11,wherein the last symbol of the first part of the transmission frameindicates the signaling parameters for decoding the second part of thetransmission frame irrespective of a number of symbols in the first partof the transmission frame.
 16. A reception apparatus, comprising: amemory; and circuitry configured to detect a last symbol of a first partof a transmission frame, and extract signaling parameters to decode asecond part of the transmission frame from the last symbol of the firstpart of the transmission frame based on a look-up table, wherein thesecond part includes signaling data for decoding a third part of thetransmission frame, the first part is a bootstrap, the second part is apreamble, and the third part is a payload.
 17. The reception apparatusof claim 16, wherein the second part contains L1 signaling information.18. The reception apparatus of claim 16, wherein the signalingparameters extracted from the first part includes one or a combinationof an FFT size, a guard interval size and a pilot pattern.
 19. Thereception apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first,second, or third parts has a bandwidth of six megahertz.
 20. Thereception apparatus of claim 16, wherein the last symbol of the firstpart of the transmission frame indicates the signaling parameters fordecoding the second part of the transmission frame irrespective of anumber of symbols in the first part of the transmission frame.